California Legislature—2015–16 Regular Session

Assembly BillNo. 3


Introduced by Assembly Member Williams

December 1, 2014


An act relating to local government.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 3, as introduced, Williams. Isla Vista Community Services District.

Existing law authorizes the formation of the Isla Vista College Community Services District within the unincorporated area of Santa Barbara County known as Isla Vista for the performance of various services, including, but not limited, to public parks, police protection, and transportation facilities.

This bill would express the intent of the Legislature to clarify and establish the necessary authority for the creation of the Isla Vista Community Services District within the unincorporated area of Santa Barbara County, and would make legislative findings and declarations relating to that intent.

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

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SECTION 1.  

(a) The Legislature finds and declares all of the
2following:

3(1) The Isla Vista community encompasses a population of over
420,000 residents situated within an area comprising of less than
5one square mile of land in Santa Barbara County. It is adjacent to
P2    1the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB) campus and
2its student population. Including university property, the area totals
3about 1,500 acres. Isla Vista represents one of the largest urban
4communities in California not governed as a city.

5(2) Isla Vista faces various challenges in local governance. As
6a university town, Isla Vista must accommodate the service needs
7associated with its transient student population and a predominantly
8renter-oriented community. Isla Vista’s situation is complicated
9by its unincorporated status, which limits its local participation in
10managing public services and providing needed public
11improvements, such as increased lighting, sidewalk and street
12improvements, and housing code enforcement.

13(3) As an unincorporated area, various county agencies provide
14services to the residents and businesses of Isla Vista. Since these
15agencies must provide services throughout the whole county, Isla
16Vista must compete for attention and funding for the services they
17need. Isla Vista is represented at the county level by one of five
18supervisors and is situated in the largest and most diverse
19geographic district in the county. The Isla Vista Recreation and
20Park District is the only local district providing limited services
21exclusively to Isla Vista.

22(4) There have been multiple attempts at achieving cityhood
23for Isla Vista, however, insufficient tax revenue prevents cityhood
24from being a viable solution. In 2003, the Santa Barbara County
25Grand Jury found that establishing a community services district
26would be the best governance option to expand and improve
27services to Isla Vista.

28(5) Over the last year, the Isla Vista community has been faced
29with many challenges due to tragic events, including two violent
30sexual assaults, a riot, and a mass shooting that has brought focus
31to the unique needs of Isla Vista that can only be addressed by
32direct, local governance. Following these events, a local coalition
33was formed to determine the best direction for Isla Vista
34self-governance and the community services district has garnered
35much local support.

36(6) Additionally, following these events, many trustees on the
37UC Santa Barbara Foundation Board expressed a strong desire to
38support the chancellor and the university in efforts to create change
39in Isla Vista, to ensure a safer and more enhanced community for
40students. The UC Santa Barbara Foundation Trustees’ Advisory
P3    1Committee on Isla Vista Strategies was formed to analyze the
2conditions and dynamics of Isla Vista and develop mid- and
3long-term recommendations to establish a viable, safe, and
4supportive environment. Among their recommendations is that the
5State of California create a Community Services District/Municipal
6Improvement District in Isla Vista with potential powers of
7infrastructure, utilities, garbage, police services, parks, recreation,
8cultural facilities, fire, security, and roads.

9(b) It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that will
10clarify and establish the necessary authority for the creation of the
11Isla Vista Community Services District within the unincorporated
12area of Santa Barbara County.



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